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Taira no Kiyomori

Type Figure Region Japan Time c. 1118–1181 Also known as Grand Minister of State

Leader of the Taira clan in the late Heian period, he established samurai dominance over the imperial court through the Hōgen and Heiji disturbances,…

Timeline

  1. 1140–1156Kyoto · KyotoBased on Seto Inland Sea trade and military strength, he took part in and won the Hōgen War, gradually expanding Taira influence at court and in the provinces.
  2. 1156–1179Kyoto · KyotoAfter the Heiji disturbance he purged the Minamoto, served as Grand Minister of State, married his daughter Taira Tokiko to Emperor Takakura, saw his grandson Emperor Antoku enthroned, monopolized key offices, and established history's first samurai-led government.
  3. 1180–1181Kyoto · KyotoAfter Prince Mochihito's edict in 1180, Minamoto no Yoritomo, Minamoto no Yoshinaka and others rose in arms; Kiyomori mobilized Taira forces to suppress them and the war broke out in full. He died of illness in Kyoto in March 1181, and the Taira lost their core leader.

Sources